Tripod for cameras.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

O. W. STEINDORF. TRIPOD FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 816,268. PATENTED MAR. 2'7, 1906.

' O. W. STEINDORP.

TRIPOD FOR CAMERA? APPLICATION FILED mmso, 1905.

I z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A kam a i UNITED STATES PATENT canon.

orro W. STEINDORF, oF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

- TRIPOD FOR CAMERAS.

. specification.

My invention relatesto new and useful improvements in tripods, and more particuarly to a tripod for cameras, and still more particularly to what may be termed a pony tripod; and it consists in the particular construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will hereinafter be fully described.

The chiefobject of my invention is to provide an adjustable folding tripod which may be conveniently ap lied to a table, fence, tree, wall, or other ed object .to'serve as a support for a camera.

vA further ob'ect is to provide a tripod which may be a justedto hold the camera in any desired position whether the-former is stood upon a flatsizrface or is suspended from a fixed object; and a still further object of the invention is to provide a tripod which is particularly adapted for-being carried in a- I pocket.

mounted u on. a set-screw 6, having is a ball-and-socket joint Said ball-and In describing the invention in detail reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front elevation of'my' invention standing in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the position of the invention when mounted upon a post, fence, wall, or the bodyof a tree as a sup rt. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the alland-socket joint. Fig. 4 is an .elevation showing the invention folded for convenient carrying. Fig.- 5 is a cross-section of a leg.' Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a modifica tion in the construction of a leg, andFig. 7. is

a view showing the supporting-hook em-' ployed with the modified construction of leg.

Referring to said drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 1. indicates a head to which two legs 2- are pivoted directly.

opposite each otherin a bifurcation 3, and a t 'rd leg 4 is pivoted in the rear end of a second bifurcation 5 in said head. Pivotally I a milled head 7, in t e front end of said bifurc'ation. 5

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30,1905. Serial No. 252,796.

extension 20 instead of t Patented March 27, 1906.

socket joint consists of an exteriorly-threa'ded cup 9, with a socket 10 therein and havin a stem 11 with aneye 12, through which saic l set-screw is passed, a ball 13, mounted in said socket 10, said ball having an integral stem cap has an. opening 16 in its top, through which the stem 14 projects and is adapted for manipulation to impinge upon the ball13 to hold the same in a fixed position. The opening 16 is of sufficient size to admit of considupon said. threaded end ,17.

Extension-strips 20 are preferably pro-- vided upon each of the legs of the tripod.

' 14, and an interiorly-threaded cap 15. Said Said strips are preferably made of metal and are held in place on the'inner sides of the legs by fixed keepers 21 on the ends of said legs and by kee ers 22,which are 'slidable upon said legs, t e last-mentioned keepers being fixedly secured or attached to sai strips by means of tie-plates 23. -Set-screws 24 are.

provided in said keepers 22 for holding the stri s 20 in fixed positions with relation to the eg's. The strip 20 upon the leg 4 is provided with a pointed end 25'for a purpose which will presently be made apparent, while the strips 20.npon the legs 2 are each provided with a ointed inwardly and rearwardly incline claw or s or 26, as s own.

Upon t e front side of one of the legs 2, as at 27, is pivoted one end of a bar or hook 28, the opposite end of which on its under side or edge is provided with a recess adapted for engagement with a pin 29- in the face of the opposite le 2 to hold said le s in extended positions wit relation to eac other against the tension of a spring 30. Said spring 30 consists of a substantially U -s'haped wire the members of which are held in rooves 31,

rovided in the inner faces of sai legs 2, and ave their ends held in fixed positions by pins 32, as shown. v

As is. obvious, the modified construction illustrated in Fi s. 6 and 7 of the drawings may be employed, if desired; As shown, the modification consists in employing a slldable e strip 20 and a or rojecting hook-shaped claw or spur 26 instead of the integral spur I in the hand or pocket.

26, said spur 26 being secured to the end of the extension by means of an adjustin screw 33, which admits of the spur being a justed to any desired position.

When not in use, the device may be closed or folded in the position shownin-Fi 4, when it may be conveniently carried either When it is desired to use the device on a level surface, as upon a table or box, the legs may be spread apart and the device set upright thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, or when used on the ground the legs may be extended, as hereinbefore mentioned.

As is well known by camera users, it frequently happens that m using cameras in the open air, no suitable rest for a camera is at hand. With my invention the camera may be suspended from apost or a tree, the legs2 being made to embrace the sides thereof with the spurs 26 in supporting engagement therewith and the pointed end also engaging to brace or support the same, the parts all assuming substantially the ositions shown in Fig. 2. When it is desire to attach the device to the body of a tree which is too large to be embraced by the legs 2, the strips 20 may be extended to render the capacity thereof greater, or the claws may be inserted directly in the face of the tree, in: a buildi -wall, &c. A fence may likewise be employ d as a'su port for the device, the spurs 26 being ma e to engage one of the top rails or boards thereof to suspend the device'therefrom and the pointed end 25' being brought into bracing e agement with a lower rail thereof.

rom the foregoing it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple and convenient tripod of the character described, and it is obvious that various slight alterations may be made in the construction and arrangement of its parts without departin fromthe general spirit or scope thereof. ence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and arenas 2. In a tripod, a head provided with a bifurcation therein, le s pivotally mounted in the opposite ends 0 said bifurcation, a second bifurcation in said head at right angles to the first, a leg pivotally mounted in the rear end of said second bifurcation, slidable extensions carried by said legs, hooks or claws carried by the extensions on'the first-mew .by said legs, hooks or claws carried by the extensions on the first-mentioned legs, a pron carried by the extension on the other leg, an a ball-and-socket joint adjustably mounted in said head, said joint comprisin an exteriorly-threaded cup with a socket t erein and having a stem with 'an eye therethrough, a ball mounted in said socket, an integral stem having a threaded end carried by said ball, and an exteriorly threaded-cap encircling said stem and adaptedifor manipulation on said cup-to adjust said ball in position.

4. In a tripod, a head, legs pivoted in said head, adjustable extension-strips carried by said legs, a prong on the end of one of said stri s, and a hook or claw on the end of each of t e other strips, a spring for normally hold-,

ing the last-mentioned legs close together, means for holdin said legs spread against the tension of sai sprin a ball-and-socket joint adjustably mounte in said head, and means for mounting a camera upon said joint.

5. In a tripod, the combination with a head and adjustable legssuitably mounted in said head, of a ball-and-socket joint piv- H. E. DUNLAP, J. H. DUNLAP. 

